Apparatus for use in collating printed sheets



Ocft. 2, 1965 W. G SIMPSON 3,214,161

APPARATUS FOR USE IN COLLATING PRINTED SHEETS Filed June 30, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet l m4; M 5 J/MAYo/v Get. 26, 195 W. G. SIMPSON 3,214,161

APPARATUS FOR USE IN GOLLATING PRINTED SHEETS Filed June 30, 1964 4 Sheets-$heet 2 Arr-rs.

Oct. 26, 1965 w. G. SIMPSON 3,214,161

APPARATUS FOR USE IN COLLATING PRINTED SHEETS Filed June 50, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Arm z Oct. 26, 1965 w. G. SIMPSON 3,214,161

APPARATUS FOR USE IN COLLATING PRINTED SHEETS Filed June so, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent O 3,214,161 APPARATUS FOR USE IN COLLATING PRINTED SHEETS William Gordon Simpson, Glemsford Drive, Harpenden, England Filed June 30, 1964, Ser. No. 379,212 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Nov. 15, 1961, 40,934/ 61; Nov. 22, 1963, 46,270/ 63 8 Claims. (Cl. 270-58) This application is a continuation-in-part application of my United States application Serial No. 236,805, filed on November 13, 1962.

This invention relates to apparatus for use in collating printed sheet material and provides the combination of a plurality of parallel shelves spaced apart one above another, the shelves sloping upwardly from back to front, above each shelf a plurality of sheet advancing means movable in the fore and aft direction over the shelves operable to advance towards the front of the shelf each top sheet of a plurality of stacks of printed sheets along the shelf, and means for moving the sheet advancing means which comprise two levers pivoted for fore and aft rocking movement about an axis parallel to the length of the shelves, said levers extending upwardly from the pivot axis, across members extending between the levers one above each shelf and carrying the sheet advancing means and an elongated treadle extending lengthwise and horizontally between the levers and secured thereto with its width substantially horizontal.

The pivot axis may be intermediate in the width of the treadle and is preferably offset from the central longitudinal axis of the treadle.

The front edge of each upper shelf may be behind the front edge of the shelf next below.

The apparatus may include a seat upstanding from the treadle.

Preferably the shelves are mounted on supporting means and are preferably individually removable. The crossmembers may also be individually removable from the levers.

The sheet advancing means preferably comprise arms pivoted to the cross-members which arms extend forwardly over the shelves and preferably the forward ends of the arms are received within rubber thimbles for engaging with the sheets.

Alternatively the sheet advancing means may be hooks for engaging the rear edges of said printed sheet material.

In one form of the invention the sheet-advancing means comprise generally Y-shaped members pivoted by their arms to the cross-members, the leg of each member extending forwardly from its cross-member and formed by a pair of opposed parallel strips for reception within a rubber thimble, the thimble being releasably held thereon by a gripping member which grips a part of the thimble between the strips. The gripping member may be a ring located between the two strips, the ring encircling and being located between the strips by a bolt passing through the two strips. Each said Y-shaped member may be pivoted at a point intermediate in its length and may be provided with counterbalancing means at its rear end.

A number of embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of an apparatus of the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a section on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 and shows the sheet advancing means incorporating one form of rubber pusher for engagement with the sheets,

FIGURE 3 is a section of lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged detail view of part of FIG- URE 2,

FIGURE 5 is a view of a modified rubber pusher,

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the preferred rubber pusher,

FIGURE 7 is a modified form of the rubber pusher of FIGURE 6, only the modified part being shown.

FIGURE 8 is a plan of a detail modification of the sheet advancing means,

FIGURE 9 is a section on line 9-9 of FIGURE 8, and

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 8 of another modification.

Referring now to the drawings, apparatus for use in collating printing sheets comprises a hollow outer container 11, comprising a back 12, two sides 14 and a top piece 15. The upper ends of the front of the sides 14 are cut down at about 49 to the horizontal to provide a sloping front 16 for the container 11. A back plate 17 extends across the container from one side plate to the other and parallel to the sloping front 16 of the side plates. This back plate 17 supports a number of individually removable shelves 18 at approximately right angles thereto, i.e. at about 41 to the horizontal. The back plate 17 carries a number of battens 19 on which rest the lower sides of the shelves 18. The side pieces 14 have a number of supporting projections 20 on each side having grooves or define grooves in which rest the forward parts of the side edges of the shelves 18. Each shelf 18 supports four spaced stacks of printed paper sheets 21.

The shelves 18 have rebates 22 at the rear part of their sides. A pair of levers 23 project upwardly through the aligned rebates 22. These levers 23 are pivoted near their lower ends on small bearings 24 which are carried on strong elongated battens 25 extending along the sides 14 from the back 12 to project slightly in front of the apparatus. The lower ends of the levers 23 are bent parallel to the supporting battens 25 and are joined together by a treadle 26. This treadle 26 is an elongated treadle which extends lengthwise and horizontally between the levers and is secured thereto with its Width substantially horizontal. The treadle is thus suitable for an operator to stand on and walk along the treadle. The relationship between the pivot axis between the bearings 24 and the treadle is preferably arranged so that the operator can, by transferring his weight from one side to the other of the pivot axis, rotate the treadle about the pivot axis in both directions whilst remaining standing on the treadle. Secured to the levers 23 at various locations along their length are a number of cross members or rods 27 which are located one above each shelf 18. The cross-rods 27 may be individually removable from the levers 23. On each cross rod 27 there is freely mounted the ends 28 of eight Wishbone shaped pusher arms 29 which are arranged in four pairs, one pair per stack (see FIGURE 3 in which two pairs of pusher members are omitted for clarity). In the example shown in FIGURES l to 4, at the front end of each of these pusher arms 29 there is gripped a triangular rubber pad 31 having two acute angled apices 32 one of which rests on the top sheet of the stack. However, other means of rubber pusher may be employed as described below.

A pair of rubber stops 132 are provided on each side 12 to limit the movement of the levers 23.

In operation the stacks 21 are arranged on the shelves 18 and the pusher arms 29 arranged so that the pads 31 rest lightly on the top sheet of each stack 21. On rotation of the treadle 26 about the pivot axis in an anticlockwise direction the levers 23 are urged forwardly (as shown in chain lines in FIGURE 4) pushing the top sheet of each stack 21 forwardly to facilitate collating. The

sheets may now be removed for collation. On rotation of the treadle 26 about the pivot axis in a' clockwise direction the rubber pads 31 run over the next sheets of the stacks which tends to loosen the sheets slightly, and will then take up the position ready for the next forward movement of the lever.

Although in this embodiment the shelves are arranged at about 41 to the horizontal, I have found however that they may be inclined from between 30 to 55 to the horizontal for the most suitable operation in the aforedescribed type of collator.

In combination with the treadle, a seat as shown in chain lines in FIGURE 2 may be provided on the treadle to allow operation of the collating apparatus by an operator whilst sitting down.

Further the bearings 24 may be mounted directly on to the floor.

' The ends of the pusher arms are, in this embodiment, wound around the cross-rods. However, if desired these arms may be connected to, or may be located between, spacing sleeves surrounding the cross rods.

Instead of the rubber pads as aforedescribed, alternative rubber pusher pads as shown in FIGURE 5 or FIG- URE 6 or FIGURE 7 may be used. The pusher pad shown in FIGURE 5 has a number of acute angled teeth which are'all inclined towards the direction of movement of the pusher arm 29.

On the other hand the pusher pad shown in FIGURE 6 is a rubber thimble 50 and is used in conjunction with a pusher member or arm 51 formed from a single strip of metal, for example cadmium plated steel, into a generally Y shape having a leg 52 and two arms 53. The leg 52 is formed by two opposed parallel strips 54 joined at the end. The arms 53 have inclined parts 55 and outer parts 56 extending from the inclined parts 55 and parallel to the plates 54. Registering circular openings 57 are provided in the outer parts 56 for the passage therethrough of one of the cross-rods 27. Registering circular openings 58 are provided in the strips 54 near their junction with the inclined parts 55. A bolt 59 passes through these openings 58 and is provided with a knurled nut 60.

The operative or forward end of the arm 51 which is formed by the leg 52 of the Y has fitted thereon the rubber thimble 50, a part of which is forced between the strips 54 by a ring or gripping member 61 which encircles the bolt 59 and which jams the said part of the thimble between the facing surfaces of the strips 54.

This method of securing the rubber thimble 50 to the pusher arm 51 allows, on wear of the nodules on a portion of the surface of the thimble, the thimble to be readily released and rotated about the arm so that the nodules on a different portion of the surface of the thimble will engage the top sheet of the stack.

With reference to FIGURE 7, the pusher arm 51 is modified by providing the arm with means for counterbalancing the weight of the arm engaging the top sheet of the stack. This has the advantage that the apparatus may readily be used for use in collating sheet material of varying weight. In this form of the pusher arm, the arm 51 is provided with extended outer parts 56 which have inturned ends 62 at their free ends. An aluminium or light plastic tray 63 is also provided, the tray having an overlapping plate 64 which defines with the tray a groove 65. This groove 65 receives the inturned ends 62. By placing light weights in the tray the arm may be counterbalanced. Alternatively, instead of the tray 63 and the weights, the counter-balance may be provided by an up-turned U-shaped connecting member joining the inturned ends 62.

The apparatus of this example is also suitable for use in collating folded paper sections 81 prior to bookbinding. In this case instead of using rubber pads, the pusher arms 29 have attached to their ends a length of piano wire 83 a hook 84 at its free end (see FIGURES 8 and 9). This end of the piano wire 83 lies on and overlies the top section of a stack of sections. The overlying part including the hook 84 is received in a recess 85 in a lip 86 provided on the back edge of the shelf 18. Where the sections 81 are narrow a pusher arm 29 having a wider end piece 92 which carries two such piano wires 93 may be used so that two hooks 94- are provided for each section (see FIGURE 10).

In use the hooks 84 or 94 will pull a section 81 forward on forward movement of the lever (as shown in FIGURE 9). On the return movement, the books will move to behind the rear end of the next section.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for use in collating printed sheet material comprising:

(a) a plurality of parallel shelves spaced apart one above another, the shelves sloping upwardly from back to front;

(b) above each shelf a plurality of sheet-advancing means movable in the fore-and-aft direction over the shelves operable to advance towards the front of the shelf each top sheet of a plurality of stacks of printed sheets along the shelf; and

(c) means for moving the sheet-advancing means which comprise two levers pivoted for fore-and-aft rocking movement about an axis parallel to the length of the shelves, said levers extending upwardly from the pivot axis, cross members extending between the levers one above each shelf and carrying the sheet-advancing means, and an elongated treadle extending lengthwise and horizontally between the levers and secured thereto with its width substantially horizontal, the treadle being positioned in front of the nearest shelf and the pivot axis being intermediate in the width of the treadle as viewed from above, whereby an operator of the apparatus may remain standing on the treadle throughout operation of the apparatus and may effect a rocking movement of the treadle and hence movement of the sheet-advancing means while standing on the treadle.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the shelves are mounted on supporting means and are individually removable.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the cross members are also individually removable from the levers.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which the sheetadvancing means are hooks for engaging the rear edges. of said printed sheet material.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the sheetadvancing means comprise generally Y-shaped members pivoted by their arms to the cross members, the leg of each member extending forwardly from its cross member and formed by a pair of opposed parallel strips for reception Within a rubber thimble, the thimble being releasably held thereon by a gripping member which grips a part of the thimble between the strips.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the gripping member is a ring located between the two strips, the ring encircling and being located between the strips by a bolt passing throughthe two strips.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which each Y- shaped member is pivoted at a point intermediate in its length and is provided with counterbalancing means at its rear end.

8. Apparatus for use in collating printed sheet material comprising:

(a) a plurality of parallel shelves spaced apart one above another, the shelves sloping upwardly from (c) means for moving the sheet-advancing means which comprise two levers pivoted for fore-and-aft whereby an operator of the apparatus may remain sitting on the seat throughout operation of the apparatus and may effect a rocking movement of the combined seat and treadle and hence movement rocking movement about F axis Parallel to the 5 of the sheet-advancing means while sitting on the length of the shelves, said levers extending uptread1e wardly from the pivot axis, cross members extending between the levers one above each shelf and carrying the sheet-advancing means; an elongated treadle extending lengthwise and horizontally be- 10 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS tween the levers and secured thereto with its width 523,451 7/94 Belknap 270-58 X substantially horizontal, the treadle being positioned 2,599,829 6/52 Hernblad 27058 in front of the nearest shelf and the pivot axis being 2,829,888 4/58 Thomas 270 58 intermediate in the width of the treadle as viewed from above, and a seat upstanding from the treadle, 15 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR USE IN COLLATING PRINTED SHEET MATERIAL COMPRISING: (A) A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL SHELVES SPACED APART ONE ABOVE ANOTHER, THE SHELVES SLOPING UPWARDLY FROM BACK TO FRONT; (B) ABOVE EACH SHELF OF A PLURALITY OF SHEET-ADVANCING MEANS MOVABLE IN THE FORE-AND-AFT DIRECTION OVER THE SHELVES OPERABLE TO ADVANCE TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE SHELF EACH TOP SHEET OF A PLURALITY OF STACKS OF PRINTED SHEETS ALONG THE SHELF; AND (C) MEANS FOR MOVING THE SHEET-ADVANCING MEANS WHICH COMPRISE TWO LEVERS PIVOTED FOR FORE-AND-AFT ROCKING MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL TO THE LENGTH OF THE SHELVES, SAID LEVERS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE PIVOT AXIS, CROSS MEMBERS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE LEVES ONE ABOVE EACH SHELF AND CARRYING THE SHEET-ADVANCING MEANS, AND AN ELONGATED TREADLE EXTENDING LENGTHWISE AND HORIZONTALLY BETWEEN THE LEVERS AND SECURED THERETO WITH ITS WIDTH SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL, THE TREADLE BEING POSITIONED IN FRONT OF THE NEAREST SHELF AND THE PIVOT AXIS BEING INTERMEDIATE IN THE WIDTH OF THE TREADLE AS VIEWED FROM ABOVE, WHEREBY AN OPERATOR OF THE APPARATUS MAY REMIAN STANDING ON THE TREADLE THROUGHOUT OPERATION OF THE APPARATUS AND MAY EFFECT A ROCKING MOVEMENT OF THE TREADLE AND HENCE MOVEMENT OF THE SHEET-ADVANCING MEANS WHILE STANDING ON THE TREADLE. 